ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The Atlanta Falcons officially named franchise legend Matt Ryan as president of football operations, and he quickly got to work initiating the search for a new head coach following Raheem Morris’ dismissal.
The Falcons are coming off yet another 8–9 season, missing the playoffs for an eighth straight year, and will look ahead to 2026 with a new head coach and general manager in hopes of getting the franchise back on track.
Ryan made his final appearance as an NFL analyst for CBS on Sunday’s pregame show before Buffalo’s wild-card playoff win at Jacksonville, and said on the broadcast his goal is to help lead the Falcons to make their first playoff appearance since 2017 next season.
“That’s the vision for where we want to be,” Ryan said. “You want to be in the mix, in the playoffs. It has been too long there and we’re going to work really hard and find the right people to get us back into that position to be successful.”
A look at those being tied to Atlanta’s opening so far:
Falcons head-coaching trackerEjiro Evero, Panthers defensive coordinator
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Falcons have requested permission to interview Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero for their head coaching vacancy.
Atlanta previously interviewed Evero two years ago before ultimately hiring Morris. Carolina is coming off its first NFC South title in a decade, powered by a dominant defense in 2025.
The Falcons requested an interview with Panthers DC Ejiro Evero for their head coaching job, per source.
Carolina swept Atlanta this season, including a shutout in September. That’s two requests for Evero, who also has one from the Raiders.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 11, 2026
John Harbaugh, former Baltimore Ravens head coach
Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Thursday he hopes John Harbaugh, who was fired on Tuesday following 18 seasons as coach of the Ravens, would be interested in interviewing with Atlanta.
“John has been one of the most successful coaches in the last 20 years in our league,” Blank said. “He has won at every level. And so, he would certainly be a candidate who we’d want to spend some time with. Whether or not he would have any interest in Atlanta, I don’t know.”
According to Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland, Harbaugh’s head-coaching demands include $20 million for his annual salary, $10 million to choose his staff, total authority over the roster and the freedom to pick the next general manager wherever he ends up.
Harbaugh left Baltimore with a Super Bowl and a legacy of consistency, ranking among the NFL’s winningest active coaches.
Kevin Stefanski, former Cleveland Browns head coach
The Falcons interviewed former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski for their head coach position, the team announced Sunday.
Stefanski led the Cleveland Browns as head coach for six seasons from 2020–25. Before arriving in Cleveland, he spent 14 years with the Minnesota Vikings, beginning his NFL career as an assistant to the head coach from 2006–08.
He rose through the organization as assistant quarterbacks coach, tight ends coach, quarterbacks coach and interim offensive coordinator, and was named offensive coordinator in 2019.
Stefanski entered the NFL after serving as assistant director of football operations at the University of Pennsylvania in 2005.
Aden Durde, Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator
Atlanta interviewed Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde on Saturday.
Durde spent the past two seasons (2024–25) as defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks after serving three seasons (2021–23) as defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys.
Prior to his time in Dallas, he spent three seasons (2018–20) with the Atlanta Falcons in various roles, including defensive assistant (2018–19) and outside linebackers coach (2020), after originally joining the organization as a Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellow during training camp in 2016.
Before joining the Falcons, Durde served as head of football development at NFLUK, where he helped guide the International Player Pathway Program. He also spent six seasons (2011–16) as defensive coordinator for the London Warriors, while working as a coaching intern with the Cowboys during training camps in 2014 and 2015.
A native of North London, England, Durde played linebacker in NFL Europe for six seasons with the Scottish Claymores and Hamburg Sea Devils, and was a member of Hamburg’s World Bowl XV championship team in 2007.
Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator
The Falcons completed an interview with Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for the position on Saturday.
Kubiak most recently served as offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks during the 2025 season after holding the same role with the New Orleans Saints in 2024. Prior to his time in New Orleans, he spent the 2023 season with the San Francisco 49ers as an offensive passing game specialist, following a year (2022) with the Denver Broncos as offensive passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Kubiak also spent three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, serving as offensive coordinator in 2021 and quarterbacks coach from 2019–20. Before returning to Minnesota, he spent three seasons (2016–18) with the Broncos as an offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach. He began his NFL coaching career with the Vikings, working two seasons (2013–14) as a quality control coach and assistant wide receivers coach.
A Houston native, Kubiak spent four seasons at the collegiate level, serving as wide receivers coach at Kansas in 2015 after three seasons at Texas A&M as a graduate assistant and wide receivers coach (2012) and offensive quality control coach (2010–11).
Anthony Weaver, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator
The team kicked things off by interviewing Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver on Saturday.
Weaver has spent the past two seasons (2024–25) as defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins. Before joining Miami, he spent two seasons (2022–23) as assistant head coach and defensive line coach for the Baltimore Ravens, after serving as the team’s run game coordinator and defensive line coach in 2021.
Weaver also spent five seasons (2016–20) with the Houston Texans, coaching the defensive line from 2016–19 before being promoted to defensive coordinator and defensive line coach in 2020. He began his NFL coaching career as an assistant defensive line coach with the New York Jets in 2012, then served as defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills in 2013 and the Cleveland Browns from 2014–15.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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